2018 Lexus LS Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other LS years
- Far more complaints than other years 4th of 29 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 2 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 15 complaints with NHTSA about the 2018 Lexus LS. That ranks 4th out of 29 LS model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is electrical system (3 complaints, 20%), typically at around 6,300 miles. There are 2 safety recalls covering this model year.
- 15owner complaints
- 2safety recalls
- 0NHTSA investigations
- 0complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2018 Lexus LS problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | 3 | 20% | 6,300 | — | — |
| Engine | 3 | 20% | — | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 3 | 20% | — | — | — |
| Wheels | 3 | 20% | 8,300 | — | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 2 | 13% | 36,000 | — | — |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 2 | 13% | 22,087 | — | — |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 1 | 7% | 6,300 | — | — |
| Power Train | 1 | 7% | 7,000 | — | — |
| Seats | 1 | 7% | — | — | — |
| Steering | 1 | 7% | — | — | — |
| Tires | 1 | 7% | 8,300 | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2018 Lexus LS recalls (2)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Air bags:sensor:occupant classification:front passenger
Problem: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2018-2021 Lexus LS500 and 2018-2020 Lexus LS500 Hybrid vehicles equipped with the "Executive Package." The front passenger seat may have been assembled with interference between internal parts that can cause the Occupant Classification System (OCS) sensor to incorrectly detect the occupant. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."
Risk: Incorrect detection of an occupant may result in improper air bag deployment during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and repair the front passenger seat, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 7, 2024. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is 24LA03.
Tires:sidewall
Problem: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2018 Lexus LS vehicles equipped with run-flat tires with a sidewall reinforcement layer inside the tire. The tire-on-wheel assembly process may have caused the reinforcement layer to crack, possibly resulting in the tire tread layer separating from the tire.
Risk: If the tire tread layer separates from the vehicle, vehicle handling and stability may be affected, increasing the risk of crash.
Fix: Toyota will notify owners, and Lexus dealers will replace the affected tires, free of charge. The recall began April 26, 2019. Owners may contact Lexus customer service at 1-800-255-3987. The Toyota number for this recall is KLC.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
Main rod bearing failure in the motor. No lights on the dash. Pulling away from the traffic light, heard loud banging from the engine and loss of power. Two blocks away from home, fortunately the car made it. 97,500 miles on the car. Oil was changed at Len Stoler Lexus 1,242 ago. Service history of…
At 55,310 miles the car stalled without warning while driving at low speed. The car was towed to a Lexus dealership and it was reported by the dealer after inspection that the engine had seized. The vehicle is available for inspection. The motor failed while driving the vehicle. The V35A-FTS engine…
See attached document for complaint.
The contact owns a 2018 Lexus LS 500. The contact stated that while driving 50 MPH, the vehicle stalled. The vehicle coasted and was steered over to the side of the road. The vehicle failed to restart. The vehicle was towed to the residence, where the oil was drained and the cap and filter were…
VIN: [XXX] Current Mileage: 70,440 Vehicle: 2018 Lexus LS500 In November 2021, I purchased this vehicle with approximately 19,000 miles. Routine maintenance was performed every 7,500 miles. At approximately 44,000 miles (in 2023), the vehicle experienced severe engine failure following warning…
Other Lexus LS years
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 LS | 1 | 2 |
| 2024 LS | 0 | 2 |
| 2023 LS | 1 | 2 |
| 2021 LS | 5 | 1 |
| 2020 LS | 0 | 1 |
| 2019 LS | 1 | 1 |
| 2018 | 15 | 2 |
| 2016 LS | 5 | 0 |
| 2015 LS | 3 | 0 |
| 2014 LS | 3 | 0 |
| 2013 LS | 6 | 0 |
| 2012 LS | 5 | 0 |
| 2011 LS | 9 | 0 |
| 2010 LS | 8 | 0 |
| 2009 LS | 13 | 0 |
| 2008 LS | 43 | 1 |
| 2007 LS | 45 | 1 |
| 2006 LS | 17 | 1 |
| 2005 LS | 5 | 1 |
| 2004 LS | 8 | 1 |
| 2003 LS | 1 | 0 |
| 2002 LS | 7 | 0 |
| 2001 LS | 3 | 0 |
| 2000 LS | 1 | 0 |
| 1999 LS | 3 | 0 |
| 1998 LS | 2 | 0 |
| 1997 LS | 1 | 0 |
| 1996 LS | 1 | 0 |
| 1995 LS | 2 | 0 |
See all Lexus LS problems by year, every Lexus model, or the Lexus VIN decoder.
Similar Lexus models
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2018 Lexus LS?
Owners most often report electrical system, engine, unknown or other problems. The top one, electrical system, accounts for 3 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2018 Lexus LS?
Yes, 2 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2018 Lexus LS a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other LS model years, the 2018 has far more complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.